Roadtrips

One of the things I enjoy a lot is traveling and with air travel being minimal due to financial constraints… One of the things I have always enjoyed is having road trips, some planned and some spontaneous. 

There is something about driving to a new place, immersing yourself in the food, culture and people and meeting people who love Christ as well. 

I’ve been driving since I turned 16 but since I moved to the US I was a little encumbered in terms of mobility, but God answered the prayer with my partner in crime, named Igraine after Arthurian legend. 

I love driving and it’s relaxing for me, and it’s great that God uses it as a tool to grow in friendships with friends, family and my little sisters.

I’d write more but I’m off to another adventure, armed with my camera, a notebook and excitement. 

Take an Inspiration Drive

Traveling is one activity that i find visually and intellectually stimulating. Seeing new sights, meeting new people and eating new food wakes up my brain and gets me in a thinking, writing, painting and designing mood. Last week, I went on a drive along Highway 1 from Salinas until Carmel to take some photographs, enjoy the scenery and of course, enjoy the local fare (food included). One of the things that instantly struck me was how great and majestic creation is, and how much bigger and more majestic God is. Life does get busy, but it was nice to take time off it and just drive and forget deadlines for a bit, enjoy life and good company. :)

I decided to post some of my own photographs. These are straight from camera, no digital editing done of them and hopefully no one strips these and passes them off as their own photographs because I did not put my usual watermarks on them. =)

Taking a walk after lunch!

Hiking and this trip really showed me how queasy I get with heights, but nothing beats a good photograph so I need to risk for some shots :)

When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor - Psalm 8:3-5

Last night

Last night….

I got to see Les miserables on stage for the first time!! It was a great opportunity to see it with some friends. For those who are my close friends and perhaps those I have scared with my love for Victor Hugo’s work, they know how much I liked the novel ever since I read it in high school. I’m particularly also very partial to the London original cast and dream to see it in London one day (if finances and time permits. :) )

It was beautiful. It was also filled with avid theater people, i love that when everyone seems really into and passionate about the show, story or performance. I’ll expound more on it later and I do have my favorite acts and songs in the musical.

Some part of me wishes I was with some of my closest friends from back home, just because they love theater too. It would have been nice to share the experience with them as well. However, I got to spend time with a friend and my little sister in Christ. It was fun and for a first timer, I think she enjoyed the musical a lot.

Facebook Discipline

Social networking has gotten really popular. Most young people have a Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, Linkedin, Tumblr, Google(+), account. Social media platform is getting new applications and new sites very often. Now we have Instagram, which I, have become really addicted to. I had a camera bug when I was younger but developing film (I had my dad’s old SLR) was a bit pricey for me. Also, I couldn’t afford a Polaroid camera which was something I really wanted. So now, especially with the smart phone, it has become easier to “sync” our life and our memories to our social networking accounts.

But just how important is it to have our Facebook milestones and our “thumbs up” from people who “follow” us? How do we actually use such influence to glorify God? Of course, I’m not asking this to increase our ‘virtual’ check ins to church, but how many times are we actually there on Sundays or the other days in the week, ready to worship God with our hearts, souls, minds and bodies? When we have lunch or do roadtrips with friends, do we actually have meaningful talks with them or are we waiting for a moment that we can hype up or complain about on our blogs or twitter statuses? How many times have you taken a picture of a majestic sunrise and have just said, “God, You are amazing for creating this, and this is on sunrise repeat everyday!” When we add or remove friends, how many times do we really stop and pray about that person on our list or maybe even check up on them and see how they are really doing, aside from occupying ‘important’ Facebook space.

This is a post to spur thinking, to myself and to readers about how even our “Facebook walk” really represents our walk as Christians.

1. Discipline our offering of our time - There was a time when I was ALWAYS on Facebook, and I really had no idea why. I wasn’t playing any online games nor do I chat with people. It seemed like I was just watching the feed and commenting on anything and everything I can. I was just stuck in an addiction. However, it becomes a realization, when you are at school or at work, should you really be on Facebook that much? Colossians 3:23 teaches us to do everything we do, in word and deed, for the glory of God. If you are working and on Facebook, you are not being a good employee. In my opinion, no matter what psychology says about our minds being capable of multi-tasking, it poses a problem if we are on Facebook 24/7. If you are distracted as an employee or student, simply put in economic terms, you are not efficient nor are you productive. So, if you are hyper-facebooked, get off Facebook and work/study! If you are hypo-facebook, maybe you can check in on your friends sometimes especially those you have not seen in awhile. This point is not to say that every time spent on facebook is ‘evil’, ‘sinful’ or ‘shameful’ but it is important to have discipline in all aspects of our lives as Christians and this includes our virtual lives.

2. Watch your profile picture updates -  We live in the party age and the physical beauty age. Vanity is a character trait that people promote and self-esteem is a value that people embrace. Our society has become addicted to the concept of ‘what are we wearing today’ or ‘bathing suit day’ or better yet, ‘happy hour and club pictures’. Our profile pictures reflect who we are, and better yet, we choose our own profile pictures so they reflect our ability to make choices as well. So before, you upload that picture of you looking all amazing and sexy for a dinner date, think about it… does the world really need to see it? Will it change someone’s life and lead them to think about Christ? Or is it just to maximize server capacities in a distant location? Again, changing profile pictures is not wrong, but we should watch our motives and be mindful, always.

3. Aim to decrease our abilities to be passive-agressive - This is something I’m hugely guilty of, because it is just really easier to vent online than approach people and communicate with them. It is easy to bash on the passive-agressives and complain about them on your status or twitter feed also, but really, you become the king or queen of the Passive-Aggressive society when you do that. It doesn’t add to anyone’s meaningful social network experience, nor does it subtract from it. The Bible has a wisdom-filled concept about this, talk to the person one on one, then bring a friend and then a church leader. Aim to resolve the conflict and keep praying for reconciliation. Our friends need Jesus too, and they are experiencing life at almost the same pace as we are doing so remember that and be understanding. God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in our relationship with Him, and this relationship leads us to have fruitful relationships with others.

4. Be mindful of your communications online - I’m not much of a chatter nor a visual chat person, but it is something that distance has given me an opportunity to lift to the Lord and ask on how to further be like Him in this opportunity. Most of my close friends are far away, in different countries. Some do not have access to frequent technological devices so this season is really a time to explore snail mail, video chats, phone cards and shipping rates just to keep in touch. However, Ace taught me that any conversation that does not lead to changed hearts in Christ is probably not a fruitful conversation. That is a lesson that really strikes me everyday, because I still do struggle with anger issues, selfish heart issues and meaningless chatter/gossip issues. Especially with friends, it is easy to just gossip, be mean or be resentful instead of remembering that I have a faith to live out and represent. It is a reminder that, I, as do all of us, need Christ everyday because individually, we cannot do it. In him, with him and through him, all things are possible. This is a post that is meant to challenge each of us. This is a post that is not meant to make us think of the people in our Facebook friends list who are guilty of some of the points listed above. If your mind is already wandering to them and their misdeeds, stop and look at your own account, maybe even look through your timeline or twitter feed. This is a post that is meant to challenge each of us to stop, think and repent to Christ alone. Martin Luther has said that Christianity is daily repentance to Christ. Practicing that can be challenging and wherever you feel weakest in, in Christ you are strong.

An encouragement I must write because it was impressed upon me is that every social networking account you have, no matter how dormant it seems, is an open door, an opportunity you have to witness to people about Christ and His work in your life and the lives of those around you. Do not worry about the harvest, it is the Holy Spirit’s job to keep working on each person’s heart, including yours but run the race with endurance and with a gentle and teachable heart. God bless, you guys! What area in social networking do you struggle with the most? How do you surrender this to Christ daily? Write me a note and tell me about it. I’d love to hear from you. :)

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. - 1 John 3:2

Be a book list rebel

I say that to be funny, because we have a lot of really popular books just being sold out: Fifty shades of gray, The Hunger Games, Games of Thrones, Harry Potter, Twilight. All are books that are on some Must-read list. And yes, except Twilight, I have not read the others at all (I’ve read the series of Twilight and have discussed it with a younger sister in Christ, but moving along. :P ) If you truly want to be a bibliophile, these are some ideas of expanding your literary comfort zone and learning more about the world of fiction and non-fiction.

1. Read what your friends read.    Your friends read things that you probably won’t think about touching with a ten-foot pole. I know this because I have been subjected to romance books, horror books, sci-fi and chic lit. However, reading what they read provides opportunities for great conversation and you would find this funny, but even Mills and Boon’s novels were turned into great conversations (see number 5.)

2. Pass your books on to your friends.    When you get to know people more, you become more attuned to what they might like. I used to be a huge classical literature freak especially as a young child, so I would pass on those books to them in exchange for newer novels. One of my closer friends used to love Paulo Coelho and at that time I was in love with some local Filipino literature so we traded books. It was fun. They won’t like every book they read but it’s a good ‘bonding’ moment. One of my friends just got into my suspense and mystery and psych thriller books and it’s funny how we get into it.

3. Travel and read local literature.      Every time I’m somewhere new, I try to drop by a local bookstore and get something. Last time I was out road-tripping, I was in Virginia City and i grabbed a Mark twain book that was an illustrated poem (beautiful!) and i’m getting more mark twain books that are not as popular as the one’s I’ve read. I also got a book on the gold rush and frontier life because I love anything historical. If you’re going to cities on a trip, Google famous authors who may have come from there and start there. It makes the place you go to more meaningful and gives you an insider’s perspective on the town.

4. Go to thrift stores and look at older books.          Since I moved to the United States, one of the things that I’ve complained about is the price of books. It’s a little pricier here to get books so when I chanced upon thrift stores, I usually raid their book aisle. I was able to grab some CS Lewis books and AnnaKarenina recently. I’m excited, I just need to find the actual time to enjoy the book.

5. Take a literature class.     I took a “reading the romance” class in college that focused on Gothic Literature and how it affected current literary forms. It was taught by a professor who studied in oxford for a bit (it was an awesome class! difficult but awesome!!) I also took a Filipino literature class that examined pre-Hispanic epics and how characters still exist in present literature. Good classes, a lot of reading though. :) Community colleges offer some literature classes that aren’t required classes but they are really great to take on. Mine had one on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (I want it so much but I can’t take it on because of my work schedule. oh well.)

6. Visit the public library.     Some books you can borrow at your local library. Some books you can donate to your public library. Your public library is a service that you can use and growing up, I never really had an access to one. I lived in a provincial town without much budget for things like that, so it is a blessing to see public libraries here in the United states. Some of them even provide city-to-city delivery of books from internet requests. How convenient is that!!

7. Go to second hand booksales with friends.    Some of my closer friends I raid booksales with. Back home in the Philippines, there would be places where books would be on tables in the sidewalk and you can really get them cheap. My friends and I still read different things, but we’ve grown to appreciate the differences of preferences while giving in to the occasional agreement in books.

* Refer to book lists, they aren’t evil. Feel free to explore as much books as you can. They said that 3,000 books are being published daily in the united states. Make one of those books yours today!! This summer I’m reading: The Innocents Abroad, AnnaKarenina and  one more book I have not chosen. This is in addition to the books I get from publishers to read and review and the Reviewer books that I also take on my free time. What are you choosing to read this summer??

Frugal Tips for Grocery Shoppers!



Part of my day was spent buying some groceries for the week at my local grocery store. It’s one of those things that I enjoy doing because I find it relaxing to go between different aisles and compare prices and products. I’m always running around, so I don’t have much time to wander around grocery aisles, but I had the blessing of doing that today after fixing some paperwork until early afternoon.

My parents raised me to be a frugal shopper and it may be pretty cool to share some practical tips about grocery shopping that I’ve learned from my parents, and of course my maternal grandma who started taking me to the farmer’s market early in my life. The smell was a little overwhelming for me in the beginning (think fresh fish and meat around!!) but I enjoyed those weekend trips after awhile because it was time spent with my mom and grandmother. Plus, as a young child, I found it pretty cool to learn the art of barter early.

TIPS:

1. Grocery shopping is enjoyable when one’s stomach is filled!

As a child, my parents never brought me to a store hungry. Partly it is to minimize tantrums (which was really, zero). They always encourage me to eat before heading to get the groceries. This controls impulse purchases and helps you enjoy it as a leisure activity.

2. Prepare a weekly budget and weekly menu.

This is something my mother taught me early on. When you are learning to cook, it does mean that the first few dishes mean more expenses for you; however, if you regularly cook, it is financially wise to plan a menu and weekly budget that depends on the number of people eating and number of meal plans for the week. Planning menus helps you switch around with ingredients and see which things you can recook (leftovers) and ingredients you can reuse.

3. Bring a list and stick to it.

Write down things in a notepad or even use your smartphone. There are several apps that help in shopping, but I appreciate the handy notepad better. This helps you stay in track of what you need to buy and minimizes those unnecessary purchases (like a bag of chocolates! ;) )

4. Look through some coupons, they can be handy!

One of the things moving to America has taught me is that you get tons of paper in your mailbox. However, some of it is coupons which does help the total a bit. While I don’t endorse extreme coupon-ing, just because the time variable is an important opportunity cost for me, some clippings do prove handy and they may help in that one luxurious purchase you get that week (like some gelato half off plus manufacturer’s coupon). Living in california, I don’t see much extreme coupon-ing, so I’d rather compare prices and purchase from there.

5. Explore recipe alternatives.

There are some recipes that are just so yummy but so expensive to keep cooking. Finding alternatives for ingredients is a challenge but an experimentation worth exploring! Yes, I’m guilty of cutting corners sometimes!

6. Explore brand differences.

I understand brand loyalty, i really do. I prefer my cream cheese to be philadelphia; however, I do buy cheaper cream cheese for baking and cooking. Why? because you can manipulate the flavor. But with my toasts and bagels, i stick with the real things.

Also, for those who have dispensers in their local grocery stores, explore it. Package pastas have increased a little bit, so I do buy pasta from the dispensers like rotini, farfalle, wagonwheel pasta. I get my spices from dispensers because comparitively speaking, most of their prices are better.

7. Enjoy seasonal things when they are available.

When berries are in season, go for it! When pumpkins and squash were in season, I grabbed some, carved them for centerpieces and then used the inside as ingredients for okoy, a filipino verse of shrimp patties. =) It turned out amazing!! Eggnog also is another favorite during the holidays in coffee. Enjoy the seasonal when available and be sure to compare prices. Frozen vegetables are cheaper in winter so my pastas and stir-fry dishes use those more.

8. Buy one item that is a sort of treat for your family.

This week it’s two things: bacon and smoked salmon. My family’s not a frequent bacon eater because we try to keep food healthy. I’m making a food festival for my father tomorrow. I know one of his late cravings is bagels, cream cheese and peach preserves. So tomorrows breakfast is planned with eggs, links, smoked salmon and bagels with homemade artichoke cream cheese and sun-dried tomato tuscan cream cheese spread. I’m brewing some creme brulee coffee, which is the celebrator’s favorite flavor soooo…

9. Be prepared for teachable moments.

This isn’t limited to parents of younger kids. This is a good opportunity to teach kids how to wisely spend money. You can teach your children to list down house necessities (like their bathroom tissue or bath soap, shampoo) and grab them a basket. Again, that depends on their age and interest. Make it fun! ;) As for me, I’m a twenty something single so what I’ve done is brought younger girl friends to the grocery store with me to teach them about buying fresh meat, seafood and getting the right things at the right prices. Two of them are college aged so I took one of them ingredient shopping when she wanted to learn some recipes for college. It was fun, you learn more things about each other that way as well. So yes, mentor up and mentor down!!

Lunches and Fellowship.

Last Monday, I had the opportunity to have lunch with a dear old man who I adore a lot. Growing up, I never met both of my grandfathers so it is a blessing to talk and hang out with elderly men and hear about their stories and their perspectives on life. He is a very vivacious man who told me endless tales of Old California, military life and all his travels. It was as if you were sitting while a novel was being dramatically read, it was that good! 

Two things I will probably never forget about that day. One was he told me to lead grace because he was already used to “our praying” before meals. He also said he’s a “bad catholic” and I said “that’s why we all need Jesus.” He laughed and said he sees that in people who are changed by Jesus. I’m praying for this man. He might be the closest thing to a grandpa I’ve had since my granduncle passed away a year and a few months ago. The second thing is that, on the way out, he asked if he could hold on to my arm for a little support. I acquiesed and offered my arm, and he said, “Your heart is different, young woman. Just so you know. Don’t ever change.” and he opened the door for me because even 91 year old men should still be chivalrous according to him. It was a good lunch and I hope to see him again.

Yesterday, I had a Tuesday lunch with a girlfriend and it was long overdue. I think one of the things that is harder as you grow older is finding free time to spend with friends. Things just really happen sometimes. It was a blessing that we both found time to talk and have lunch over at the local pub which serves the best calamari and spicy aioli for me so far. :) It’s great developing friendships and talking about nothing and everything.

Most of my close friends are scattered around the globe. I probably hear from them once a year if we are lucky, but it is great to have ways to still somehow hear from them. Distance is not such a bad thing, I’ve realized that it helps you see more in perspective, learn more about each other, and appreciate the people you love the most. 

So, God, thank you for exactly where I am now. Three years ago, I was battling this decision because I did not like America and I was comfortable with my career and home country. Thank you for your leading and for your faithfulness, even when  I falter and fall at times. I love you and pray that I serve you all my life, especially around the people I meet. :)

Rewriting Fairytales

The feminism movement in the US and around the world has sought to rewrite history and the role of women. It seeks to debunk wrong stereotypes of “damsels in distress”, “princesses and ladies-in-waiting” and “simpering females”. While maybe good in intent and motive, there is probably more problems than we see with our eyes and analyze with our brains. One area this has been recently applied to is Fairytales. We negate age-old stories because they do not represent images or perspectives that we currently hold. Can this be chronological snobbery? Let’s try to analyze some of these points.

1. We live in an imperfect world - That means a world where a lot of pain and hurt exists, a world where men have made mistakes and have hurt women and women, likewise, have hurt men. Our created movements have just become reactionary, instead of proactive and biblical. In our efforts to look for equality, we have tried to put down those we deem to be in positions of power instead of going back to the basics. God created men and women, equal (in His image and likeness); BUT, he created them with different roles, one role not being better than the other, just different roles.

2. God created both men and women, in His own image and likeness - Both of us has a worth in God and we are made in His image. This means, God does not like sexism, which quite frankly, is both chauvinism and feminism. Chauvinist screams “Men do not need women. Men can survive alone.” Feminists shout, “We do not need men to provide for us. We can do fine by ourselves!” I might suggest a widely unpopular opinion, but both sides of spectrum are wrong. Going back to the Bible should be our goal on this and the Bible says in Genesis that God created man and woman in His own image and likeness. He created a world that was good, but saw that it was not good for men to be alone, so he created woman to be his helper. Man + Woman = Team was God’s design and this relationship between the two reflects a trinitarian relationship as well as a relationship that Christ had with the church, wherein the husband leads, and the wife submits in love. This is not a weak submission but a humble one, made in love from both parties. The husband does not demand it, nor does the woman (out of spite) withhold it. Men and women were created to complement each other in a marriage that is defined between one man and one woman for a lifetime. Finding that trick to complement any one marriage is Christ. He alone is the true foundation for a marriage. It’s not the personality tests, similar hobbies or lifestyle choices that decide a marriage, it’s both people loving Christ above EVERYTHING else and doing that everyday, on repeat.

3. A woman’s worth is not identified with how many wars she fights, but in who she is, her heart.

   No matter how we twist it, men are just physically bigger and stronger than women. Their physical strength is not evil or sin, it was God’s design in order to provide opportunities to a man’s leadership. The bible says that the woman is a weaker vessel, meaning a man has to step up and protect his wife, mother, sibling, and female friends. It means that if a so-called “damsel is in distress” and she is having a hard time doing it on her own, it is okay for a man to help her through it.  The misuse of the physical strength is the undoing. There are noted cases of abuse, hurt and pain inflicted against women which shouldn’t be, however empowering a woman does not mean you tell them that they do not need men at all, empowering a woman means showing them their worth in Christ and equipping them to pick godly men in their lives and encourage those men more in Christ. A woman’s heart has to be embraced and cherished, by both herself and the company she keeps.

I admit, the sight of a warrior princess does look good and makes me feel otherwise successful, however, in your heart of hearts as a woman, you are a warrior for Christ. It may not always be hand-to-hand combat, sometimes it is guerilla warfare but your role is also still to be a warrior for Christ and warrior alongside your husband.

4. A woman’s strength is not equal to how many man follow her around. - A lot of movie franchises have been showing this a lot. Two men fight over a woman, and in the end she shows power over them by choosing neither or remaining indecisive for a REALLY long time. That for one, teaches young girls to be ungrateful and proud. A woman’s worth is not equated with the number of men who find her “worthy” or the number of courtship proposals she receives, but she is already worthy in Christ. A man has only to accept that worth and care for it in order to be viewed a mature and responsible men. We have to teach our young men to treat young women the right way, with respect, honor and love. We also have to treat our young women how to respond to the correct and incorrect treatment, with a biblical definition of grace. As a female single woman, this means that male friendships are just as important and just as great as female ones. I find that I enjoy having real and godly friendships with men just as much as I enjoy it with women. :)

5. There is redemption and light amidst darkness - One powerful image that fairy tales show is the constant struggle between forces of darkness and of light. It is important to remember this, in this fallen world exists a battle between dark forces and light. The wonderful news is that light wins and in the end, God redeems creation and brings a new earth. Our hope, therefore, is not by our own choices or actions but in Christ alone, for only He is the only way by which we are freed from the darkness.

Possibly there are more points. But let’s leave this as it is for now. Watch Snow White and the Huntsmen for wonderful filmography and practice discernment. Let me know what you think of it!